BREAKING: Obama Issues Sanctions Against North Korea After ‘Cyber-Related Actions’

President Barack Obama used an executive order today to impose new sanctions on North Korea today over its ‘destructive, coercive cyber-related actions.’

The sanctions affect three state-controlled North Korean companies and 10 of its government officials, the Associated Press reports.

Obama, still on vacation in Hawaii, notified Congress of his decision in a letter this afternoon.

Senior administration officials told Reuters that the sanctions were not directly related to the recent cyber hack on Sony Pictures that the U.S. government has blamed on North Korea.

But a statement by the White House Press Secretary said otherwise.

‘As the President has said, our response to North Korea’s attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment will be proportional, and will take place at a time and in a manner of our choosing,’ the statement read.